The Athens City Council has approved a major recreation upgrade: installing turf on five infields at Athens Regional Park. The $1.5 million project is designed to enhance field quality, expand usage options, and increase the city’s ability to host tournaments.
This improvement, included in the FY 2026 budget, follows discussions at the City’s 2025 Strategic Summit. The work will be completed by Baseline Sports Construction through the Turf OMNIA Cooperative Purchasing Contract.
When finished, all five fields will be able to accommodate base distances up to 90 feet, making them suitable for both softball and baseball. Currently, no facility in the area can host baseball games requiring 90-foot bases with 5 fields at the same time. This expansion will open the door for larger tournaments and could allow Athens to partner with McMinn County High School and Tennessee Wesleyan University for multi-site events.
Cost and Funding
The total cost to turf the existing infields and expand them for 90-foot bases is $1,342,815.23. Additional costs for required bonds, grading and permitting, and necessary drainage repairs on Field 4’s outfield bring the total to $1,421,243.38. The City also approved a contingency of $78,756.62 — about 5.5% of the total — to cover unforeseen expenses, keeping the total project budget within the $1.5 million allocation.
Timeline
The project will be completed in two phases:
- Phase One – Immediate drainage repairs to Field 4’s outfield.
- Phase Two – Turf installation for all five infields, beginning in late October after the softball season ends and finishing by the end of February 2026.
The fields will be ready for the March league season as scheduled.
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